Using AI to Understand Medical Test Results (Safely)
Test results full of unfamiliar terms can be worrying, especially when they appear in a portal before your doctor calls. AI can translate the jargon. It cannot interpret what the numbers mean for you.
Step by step
- Remove your identity. Delete your name, birth date and ID numbers from anything you paste.
- Ask what the terms mean. What does LDL cholesterol mean? What does this abbreviation stand for?
- Ask for general ranges. Ranges differ between labs, so look at the ones printed on your report.
- Ask for questions to bring. What should I ask my doctor about these results?
- Do not change treatment on your own. Never start, stop or change medicine because of what an AI says.
A prompt you can copy
Type this into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini
Explain in plain words what these lab terms mean. Do not interpret my results or diagnose. Then suggest five questions I could ask my doctor. [paste terms only]
Good to know. If you feel very unwell, call your doctor or emergency services. Do not wait for an AI answer.
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Reserve a free seatCommon questions
Is it safe to upload my lab report?
Remove personal details first, and only share what you are comfortable with.
Why did it give a different answer than my doctor?
Your doctor knows your history. Trust them, and ask them about the difference.